Fallen Eagle

Chapter 73: Just a Little Push

Hey! I am SO sorry for how long this has taken guys. All throughout July, no matter what, I had little to no time to work on my story. I can assure you my desire to finish this story is not going away, and I am not hitting writer's block. It's just time was not on my side, and again, I apologize for how long this chapter took. I can't thank everyone enough for your patience and for sticking with my story.

Also, next week, I WILL be attending BronyCon in Baltimore, and I can't tell you guys how excited I am to be attending. If anyone of you are going, I hope you have fun, and hopefully we cross paths :D

User Has Been Terminted: Eeyup!

Furi Poi: Well, if time is on my side, next chapter should have some action in it!

Monkeyboy0118: Thanks man, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I really wanted Ivan and Big Mac to have some special bonding moments since they haven't hung out very much

Sheppard741: Wow, thanks for that long review :) Yeah, this was an important chapter not just for Ivan's character, but for his relationship with Big Mac as well. Ivan did need to have a realistic reaction to something like this, but Big Mac had a legitimate concern for him as well, and the two haven't had much to do together before. I really enjoyed having Big Mac show concern for Ivan and show that he really does love him as a family member, instead of going down the cliche route of, "You knocked up my sister you son of a bitch, you better treat her right!" And I'm glad it worked out for ya!

axelialea: All that shall be revealed soon!

headreviewer mk2: Yeah, tell me about it :P

ShiningShadow1965: Eeyup! I'm glad to have worked on Big Mac and Ivan's familial relationship, especially at a time that really needs it.

Danny Piciocco: Thank you my good friend!

OBSERVER01: Oh yeah, I really loved having Big Mac comfort Ivan about this and actually talk to him instead of interrogating him.

caleb200888: Oh yeah, it's especially more stressful when it shouldn't be possible!

Well guys, hope you enjoy this chapter. I will try to make sure the next one does not take as long. Please don't forget to review, and hopefully we can get to 900!

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(Ivan's POV)

"Hey Applejack?" I asked the orange mare that was cuddling up against me, sitting on my lap with my arms around her torso. Several weeks had passed since the day our lives had forever been altered, but things, shockingly, went much more smoothly than I'd anticipated. We both talked over what worried us the most about our upcoming baby the day after we discovered AJ was pregnant; met with her family at the Apple family reunion, where they all took a liking to me and, although some were skeptical, they accepted the fact that we would be parents and just asked me to stay with AJ; and Luna was due any day now for her baby.

Applejack's baby bump had only recently begun to show itself, so she had to take it a little easy on the chores around the farm, but the thrill of motherhood easily trumped her grumpiness over staying off her hooves for brief periods of time. Now that we had tackled just about everything to be on the same page, however, there was another matter to attend to, one that I swore to uphold to a certain family member. "Yeah Ivan?" Applejack gently threw her head back until the top of her mane was squished against my chest, revealing her emerald eyes that stared up at me. The two of us were enjoying a quiet evening together out in the orchard, resting against a tree on a hill overlooking the beautiful land that her family had sculpted by hoof over the past few hundred years.

I smiled down at the soon to be mother of our baby, unable to resist intertwining my fingers within her soft, golden blonde mane. Her stetson was sitting on the grass beside our picnic basket, taking a rare break from covering her head and shielding her eyes from Celestia's sun. It was a treat to see her without her hat during the day, a treat which I knew she loved to tease me about. I sighed softly and moved my other hand around her to cup her cheek, stroking over her freckles with my thumb. "I know you don't soak up physical praise like Rarity does from Spike, but you're just gorgeous," I complimented her, kissing her forehead softly.

"Aw Sugarcube," her cheeks turned a faint pink. "Ah don't mind them comin' from ya," she chuckled and quickly rolled onto her side so she was lying perfectly against my body, using the crook of my neck as her pillow. "This is just perfect, Ivan," she said while the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow in the sky and around the orchard, turning the mountains in the distant into silhouettes.

"Imagine how perfect it'll be with the three of us," I whispered, rubbing the top of her belly lovingly. Her body jolted a bit from the ticklish contact, but she held my hand down with her hoof, chuckling.

"Ah can't wait ta cuddle with both o' ya," Applejack replied as she looked at me while she traced her belly with her hoof on my hand. She sighed once more, her eyelids starting to slowly close as she snuggled against me. She gave my neck a few soft pecks; the breath from her nose tickling me in return. "But the two of us is perfect right now, Sugarcube," she added. "Our baby will just make it more perfect."

"I know," I exhaled happily, moving my arm around so it was wrapped around her chest, holding her closer and kissing her forehead. My eyes quickly looked to the side to the picnic basket sitting close by. We'd munched on practically everything that had been packed, tossing leftovers back inside. However, there was something else that I had slipped inside right before we left the farmhouse to have a little dinner alone. Luckily Applejack hadn't discovered it, or else the surprise would've been ruined. I bit down hard on my lower lip, contemplating whether or not now was the right moment act. One look back at the mare in my arms and bathed in the orange glow that was Celestia's setting sun told me there wouldn't be a better moment. We already had a child on the way, this step shouldn't be too hard, especially since it was one I've been thinking about for awhile.

"Whatcha doin' there, Ivan?" The mare questioned when I removed my arm for her body, reaching for the basket. "Still a lil hungry?"

I chuckled, "No, AJ, it's just something special I want to do," I replied softly, digging around inside the basket.

"What? This ain't special enough?" Applejack snickered with a knowing smirk. "Aw, Ah'm only pullin' yer leg, Sugarcube," she playfully punched my shoulder when I looked back at her. "What is it anyway?" She cocked an eyebrow and tried to peer over. I gently put my other hand to her cheek to prevent her from peeking, only making her snort.

"You'll see," I assured her as my other hand returned to her back, stroking it. She shrugged her own shoulders and waited patiently before my fingers grasped around the object I was looking for. I could feel my heart nearly come to a dead stop when I reminded myself what I was about to do, but calmed myself with a deep breath. I pulled my hand from the basket and focused my attention back at the mare cuddled against my chest, waiting for me to get on with it. "AJ?" I asked, staring deep into her eyes.

"Yeah, Sugarcube?"

I gulped and worked the object in my closed fist into my fingers, the sun's reflection shimmering off its golden surface as I revealed it to Applejack. All of a sudden, her eyes expanded to the size of wagon wheels, her ears drooped loosely against her head, and her mouth nearly became unhinged from her jaws. "I-Ivan?" She whispered, staring at the ring in my fingers.

"AJ," I repeated her name, "I know this miracle," I stole a glance at her belly, "was such a surprise for us, but I promised you I'd always stand by your side. And meant every single word of that, but I want to make that promise mean even more," I moved my hand around to her cheek as she rested her chin upon me as if she had trouble supporting the head. However, before I could even ask the most important question in my life, Applejack, grasped my cheek with her hoof and pulled herself up, right onto my mouth as she kissed me. She caught me off guard, but I quickly retaliated and kissed her back, feeling her hot breath as she inhaled and exhaled through her nose right on my face.

"Mwah," she pulled away, huffing and puffing with a few tears in her eyes. "YES! Yes Ivan, Ah'll-" Applejack was cut off when the sun suddenly popped back above the horizon, blinding me so much that I couldn't even see Applejack anymore!

"What the-"

A groan escaped my mouth as Celestia's sun streamed its way through AJ's window and over my face, yanking me from my dream. "Ugh, fucking dreams," I cursed, gritting my teeth as I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the bright rays invading my vision. At least this dream was a happy one, though it only served to remind me of what AJ and I still have to go through to get to that point. Even without that promise to Big Macintosh, I'd still ask Applejack when the time was right; doing it too soon would put too much stress on either of us. And of course, there was the nightmare I had. I wasn't going to tell Applejack about my second dream, but if she asked me how I slept, I just might tell her what happened, even if her brother helped set me straight. Naturally, I'd wait to tell her after everything was sorted; that was my highest priority of the day.

That's when it hit me that my arm was free to block the sun from blinding me; my heart leapt into my throat. Squinting my eyes, I moved my hand back over to Applejack's side of the bed, praying that I would feel her warm, furry body sleeping beside me, just a bit further away than usual. The prospect of opening up to AJ about my concerns was still nerve-wracking, but nonetheless, I always loved waking up and starting the day with her. There was the rare occasion she'd wake up before me and start her day, and that didn't bother me, yet with her sudden pregnancy, I was hoping to start the day as normally as possible before we did any of that. Unfortunately, my hopes vanished as my hand felt around the empty spot next to me, revealing that I was alone in her room.

"AJ?" I called out instinctively to the vacant room. I knew there wouldn't be an answer, but maybe that was only my need to see her giving my hopes up that she'd appear. Deciding that staying up here was only delaying the inevitable, I sighed, pushing myself up and swinging my legs over the side to grab my jeans that had fallen to the floor overnight. As I did, however, I caught sight of Applejack's alarm clock sitting on a nightstand beside the bed, causing the denim piece of clothing to slip from my fingers and slump back to the wooden planks. It was already 8:00 AM, well past the time we were all supposed to be awake for chores. "What the hell?" I whispered, snapping my head around back to the window. I quickly scrambled over the bed and peered outside to see just how much work I had missed for the day, but I was met with yet another shocking sight. The farm was fine with nothing amiss, except for the fact that there were no Apple family members out and about tending to anything. No Big Mac, no Applebloom, no Granny Smith, and no AJ. The curiosity of why my girlfriend didn't wake me up was now washed away with the mystery of where she and her family were now. And to be honest, I was a little anxious, what with my and AJ's lives changing literally overnight.

I couldn't stay up here any longer and bounded off the bed, slipping on my jeans and pulling on a fresh shirt from one of the drawers in the nightstand. My ball cap that I usually wore was ignored as I left it on one of the posts of AJ's bed and put on my shoes before exiting the room. I briskly trekked down the hallway and started down the stairs when the faint smell of breakfast wafted through the air, and I could hear the sound of muffled voices from downstairs, so at least two ponies were here. I crossed my fingers that Applejack was at least one of them. Upon reaching the ground floor, the voices became clearer, and my heart leapt when I could hear AJ's thick country accent from inside the kitchen. "Ivan works so hard on the farm, 'n after yesterday, well, he deserves ta sleep in a little."

Assuming it was probably Granny Smith or Big Mac she was speaking with, I didn't hesitate to continue my pace and entered the kitchen; I just wanted to be with Applejack. "Morning hu-" I began as I got inside the kitchen, only to see that I was incorrect with who AJ was speaking with. "C-Cadence?" My mouth hung slightly ajar.

"Ah, good morning, Cougar!" Indeed, the Princess of Love was sitting at the Apple family's kitchen table, a cup of coffee hovering in her magic while she sat across from my girlfriend. Applejack, sitting with her back to the doorway, whirled around in her seat, a small smile on her face. "Glad to see you're up!" The alicorn beamed, sipping the coffee from her cup as if she was here for breakfast every day.

"M-morning Cadence," I mumbled from the shock. AJ stood up from her chair and quickly trotted over to give me a good morning hug and kiss on the lips as always. I, however, still couldn't move as I tried to figure out just why Cadence was here.

"Mornin', Sugarcube," the mare said sweetly, nuzzling the crook of my neck as she stood on her hind legs. Applejack's contact made me shudder, but it also allowed my body to move once again; I wrapped my arms around my girlfriend and even kissed her on her forehead, but I couldn't rip my eyes away from the alicorn nonchalantly sitting mere feet from us. "Ya doin' okay, Ivan?" AJ asked, noticing that I wasn't very focused.

"Uh, I'm….okay I guess. I'm more confused now," I admitted, tearing my gaze away from Cadence, feeling a little better once I looked into AJ's eyes. Would talking about our concerns have to wait now that Cadence was here? I didn't know if it would be good or bad for us if this had to be put off for whatever our friend was here for. Nonetheless, I hugged Applejack tightly again, relishing in how good it felt to be close to her.

"Heh, Ah don't blame ya, Sugarcube," AJ chuckled and dropped back down onto her hooves. "We still got breakfast ready for ya if yer hungry," she tried to give me an encouraging grin. My stomach quietly gurgled when I was reminded of the pancakes, eggs, and toast sitting on the table, waiting to be consumed. Yet, eating was the last thing on my mind, at least for now. I bit my lip and cast an apologetic look toward Applejack, running my hand down the back of her mane.

"It's delicious!" Cadence chimed in, taking a bite out of a piece of toast. I took a look between both mares, not sure what to say to either of them. All I could do was confusingly run my hand through my hair, bracing myself against the table. "Are you sure you're okay, Cougar?" The alicorn set her food and cup back on the table, a concerned look on her face. Not wanting my momentary puzzlement to be misconstrued as rudeness, I politely turned down the offer for food and took a seat at the table. Applejack quickly sat down next to me, running her hoof up and down my back.

"I'm sorry, Cadence, not that I don't like you visiting, but I thought you went back home with Shining Armor to the Crystal Empire last night?" I asked, lazily leaning onto the table with my elbows, folding my hands together. The alicorn gave me slow nod in return and placed the bottom of her front hooves on the table, drumming the pair of them lightly.

"Well, you're right, Cougar I did, but something just felt off from the time Shiny and I left Canterlot. Even on our train ride to the Crystal Empire and when we turned in for the night, there was just something that didn't feel right to me."

"…..And that something was about us, right?" I guessed, feeling a little heavy in my stomach now. Poor Cadence's face twisted into that of apology as she sadly looked down at her reflection in her coffee cup. I, out of complete instinct, reached over and grasped Applejack's free hoof, squeezing it and massaging it with my thumb. If Cadence, the Princess of Love felt something bad or remotely off about us, that scared me. AJ and I both had our concerns and worries about this sudden phenomenon, but I certainly didn't feel anything hostile toward AJ, or anything that could be considered regret about this.

"Yes. I tried to sleep on it, but my mind couldn't let it go. I don't want to make you two feel any worse or concerned than you did yesterday, yet it's my duty to help couples through obstacles that they encounter," the alicorn said solemnly, slowly lifting her head back up from her cup. "To say that we were all surprised yesterday is simply an understatement, but I could feel there was more than mere shock infecting the two of you upon your discovery. I boarded the earliest train to Ponyville this morning and arrived only about twenty minutes ago, Cougar because I want to talk to you and Applejack," Cadence explained.

I bit down on my lip and darted my eyes to the mare sitting next to me, feeling a little anxious about what Cadence had to say. Applejack had the same look as I did, apparently gathering this information for the first time. "Ah'm about on the same page as ya, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "'Course Ah ain't gonna turn down a friend who's visiting, but all she told me was she wanted ta speak with us."

"I didn't want to put you on the spot, Applejack," Cadence quickly replied, shaking her head. "At least, I didn't want to fill you with anxiety without Cougar by your side," she offered us a caring smile.

Exhaling, I squeezed Applejack's hoof again before looking back at the alicorn. "N-now Cadence, when you say you felt something off about us, and that you felt more than shock," I paused, not knowing whether or not we'd like what Cadence had to say. The Princess of Love gradually shut her eyes and bowed her head, taking in a breath through her nose.

"Please, don't take any of this as a personal insult," she begged, opening her eyes to unmask a sympathetic look in them. "I'm here not just to talk, but to sincerely help the both of you. I don't believe you two are completely lost or having any personal issues together, but it's easy to tell that you were not on the same page in the infirmary yesterday," she stated firmly. I could feel both my body and Applejack's body tense up at Cadence's bold statement. I knew Applejack had worries of her own, but I was terrified that my fear of AJ thinking I was against us having a child would surface. I was tentative about telling her that particular anxiety, but I wanted to be the one to tell her on our own terms.

"W-well, in our defense there are a lot o' things ta think about Cadence," AJ swallowed, her irises slowly shrinking. "It's not like we agreed ta just get a new pet or anythin'." Cadence's nose scrunched up as she frowned in thought at Applejack's answer.

"I won't argue that, but I'm sorry, you two were more anxious and stressed than happy yesterday, and I feel that you're experiencing the same thing right now." I furrowed my eyebrows, unable to prevent a guilt-like snort from exiting my nose.

"Are you saying we were trying to be happy, Cadence?" Just like she had asked of us, I myself wasn't angry or offended by what Cadence was saying, and I was sure AJ wasn't either, but again, that fear continued to nibble at the back of my neck.

"Just relax, Sugarcube," Applejack whispered to me as my body trembled.

"In a way, Cougar, yes," Cadence replied, "and I can't fault either of you for that. However, what I want more than anything right now is to help both of you at least understand how you feel about this. The quicker you two lay out everything and get an understanding of what you both want and are concerned about, the quicker you two can enjoy your little miracle. It's completely natural to be anxious about a baby, and your case is definitely no exception, but I know that you two fear more than what usual expecting parents fear. You two love each other deeply, but I just want to help give you two a little push so you can be happy instead of stressed and afraid. That's the last thing you both need right now, especially you," the alicorn pointed her hoof toward Applejack.

My girlfriend and mother of our child placed her other hoof on top of her stomach and looked down at it, her ears drooping and lip pouting as she sighed. Her sudden change in attitude ceased my body's trembling altogether. Still holding her left front hoof in my hand, I slipped my other arm around her shoulder, gently pulling her closer. I was still extremely stressed about this, but I would never refuse making the mare I loved feel comfortable. AJ then lifted her head up to look a me and gave me a tired smile before rubbing her cheek against mine.

"Heh," she forced a chuckle, "funny thing, Ivan 'n Ah were plannin' ta sit down today ta go over all that, Cadence. Though, Ah ain't sayin' we don't want yer input; a little help might be just what we need."

"O-Oh yeah," I agreed, "especially me." Applejack suddenly pulled away while still in our hug, a bewildered expression painted upon her face.

"Ivan, what do ya mean by that, Sugarcube?" She asked with genuine concern. Before I could even answer, Cadence cut back in.

"Well, I did feel something else was amiss with you, Cougar; I especially feel it now. You're definitely afraid and unsure of something, but I can't quite put my hoof on it," Cadence elaborated. My eyes widened, a breath became trapped in my throat, and my heart nearly exploded from my chest like a xenomorph.

However, instead of asking what Cadence was talking about, Applejack turned the tables on me and began to squeeze my hand with her hoof and returned to stroking my back with her other hoof. "Sugarcube?" She stared right into my eyes, her own emerald orbs begging me to talk to her.

"All right," I sighed in defeat, never letting go of the mare in my hold. "Am I scared? Of course I am, but as you already pointed, Cadence, we both are. And please believe me, AJ," I nuzzled my forehead against her own. "I do want to get everything off my chest for you so we can get a better focus on this, but," I stopped as my eyes began to dart around away from Applejack's. "I-I'm terrified, Applejack," I admitted with a rough swallow. "Terrified of telling you….."

Applejack's hoof immediately left my hand, causing my heart to nearly stop altogether. Now, instead of sympathy, encouragement, and a little worry in her eyes, there was pain, puzzlement, and a little anger. "What?" She demanded, scrunching up her nose and glaring her eyes at me. "Yer scared ta tell me what's eatin' ya up the most about this?"

I looked away for a brief moment to just collect my thoughts when the mare's hoof held my cheek and pushed my head back to its original position so I'd be looking her dead in the eye. "Don't look away from me, Ivan," she ordered with a huff.

"AJ-"

"How could y'all be scared 'o just talkin' ta me? A-Ah know we're in over our heads right now, but we promised that we'd help each other get on the same page so we can get through this as smooth as butter!" She said with clear hurt in her voice. "Yer my special somepony, Ivan! After all we've been through, the trust we've built up, 'n the love we've shared, what could possibly so scary about talkin' ta me while Ah'm worried about bein' unable ta do enough farm work while Ah'm pregnant so the farm doesn't go under?" She glowered while pouting her lips and drooping her ears.

I couldn't help myself from pulling away from the mare. Not only did feel a little scared that I'd angered her, but a feeling selfishness washed over me as Applejack accidentally revealed one of the major troubles hovering over her head. My worry over her reaction was fucking nothing compared to that. The mare huffed and puffed as her momentary anger lingered, waiting for me to reply. "A-AJ, I'm sorry," I apologized, leaning back in closer to her and feeling the heat coming off her nostrils. "I'm really sorry," I repeated, "I know I sound selfish for saying that, hun, but I was terrified that you'd think I wouldn't want this child if I told you what's eating at me. I didn't want to give you that impression and scare you even more. I love you AJ, more than enough to go through with this. I WANT to be there for you; I WANT to see you give birth, and I WANT to be the father to OUR child. I didn't mean to upset you; I know you're dealing with what's eating at you, and believe me, I want to help you through them, so we can focus on starting our own family."

I re-wrapped my arms around Applejack, hugging her lovingly as I rested my chin on top of her head. That was it; I loved Applejack dearly, and I didn't want there to be anymore guessing games or anxiety that we had to hide from each other. Sure, a situation like this would make anyone uneasy, but if that were the case, I wanted us to work through it together. AJ's anger had slowly simmered down during my short speech before being completely extinguished when I hugged her tightly. "I'm afraid of what you would think if I told you I'm worried how your family would react to us having a baby," I softly divulged, cupping her cheek.

Applejack slowly shut her eyes and wrapped her forelegs around me in return, resting her head against my shoulder while I put my hand on the back of her head. "Sugarcube," she mumbled into my shoulder just as Cadence cleared her throat. Still holding AJ against me, I looked up at the alicorn while my girlfriend continued to snuggle against me, peeking out with her eye to give Cadence attention.

"I know you two are very stressed out right now, and that's normal for expecting couples, especially in your case. However, I'm very glad that you're communicating now, even if it hurt to start out," she looked at us apologetically. "And I understand you're still stressed about coming to terms with one another, but believe me when I say that talking does help. I'm not trying to rush you, but don't let this momentum die out."

I looked down at Applejack, who in return, looked up at me from Cadence's words. Truthfully, the alicorn was correct. Although we had gotten at least something off our chests, I could still feel stress lingering in the pit of my stomach, and I could see some in AJ's eyes. The earth pony in my arms wriggled around until she was facing Cadence and said, "Then, how do ya want us ta go about this?"

The pink mare's ears flattened against her head, pursed her lips together, and bowed her head toward the table in thought. Her multi-colored wings then suddenly sprang from her body as her face lit up. "Both of you take turns listing off what else is stressing you out, then one by one, each of you answer the other's fear until it's all settled," she said triumphantly, grinning from ear to ear for encouragement.

"I-I think that sounds fair," I remarked, running one of my hands down the back of Applejack's mane.

"E-eeyup," AJ replied exactly like her brother, forcing a smile to her muzzle.

"But," I quickly moistened my dry lips, "first I want to answer what you already told me, Applejack," I ceased running my fingers through her hair, just holding my hand on the back of her head. Out of the corner of my eye, Cadence nodded excitedly, eager to have us continue.

"Oh," Applejack blinked, "o' course, Ivan."

Knowing I had a lot to say, I took a deep breath in.

End Chapter 73

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I know, it's another cliffhanger, but I have big plans for the next chapter where AJ and Ivan come to terms with their fears and begin to work on their future as parents, plus a TWIST! Find out next time my friends!